Guardian
Angels.....ethereal beings who we feel and sometimes see....who snatch us
from the brink of disaster and give us subtle advice.....who watch over
us while we go about our mundane activities......what a wonderful concept!
And a VERY difficult one to tackle on a paranormal website, I might add,
even though the concept has been in the supernatural spectrum since ancient
times. However, today Angels are inherently a highly religious phenomenon,
and the implied concept of Angels is indirect communication with God himself.

The concept of Guardian Angels has
likely been around since the dawn of mankind. It is a concept that
has been embraced in some form by virtually every religion since the beginning
of religion itself. The modern day depictions of winged beings sitting
on clouds and playing harps comes to mind in pretty much all of us when
we think of our Guardian Angel, or of Angels in general. In the mainstream
psyche, we generally see Guardian Angels as spiritual beings with our best
interests at heart whose purpose is to serve us without interfering with
our free will. The modern marketplace solidifies this with angel statuettes,
jewelry, wall hangings, plaques and every kind of Angel paraphernalia imaginable
at every turn. Classic movies involve Angel themes, most notably in
"A Wonderful Life" where an Angel gently shows a mortal man the positive
impact he has had on the lives of others, thus turning his own life around.

So what are Guardian Angels?
Are they real? Are they figments of our collective imaginations?
Are they something in the realm of paranormal like ghosts? Is there
any proof that they exist? Are they agents of God? Can we see them?
What do they look like? Can we talk to them?

WHAT ARE GUARDIAN ANGELS?

There are several different trains
of thought on this matter so here goes...

Guardian Angels
are Sent by God to Guide and Protect: This is by far the most
prevalent theory today, and no proof is needed by those who embrace this
concept. It's simply a matter of faith. The Bible actually says
very little specifically about Guardian Angels, other than little kids may
be more attuned than we are....

Matthew 18:10 states, "See that you do not look down on one of these little
ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of
my Father in heaven."”

Indeed, little kids in their innocence
probably provide more anecdotal evidence of Angels or Guardian Angels than
all adults combined. This is significant religious-wise and spiritual-wise.
Once we get older, it seems we are no longer open to or aware of the possibility
of a Guardian Angel, and in and of itself this is testament for how hardened
and jaded we become spiritually as we age. But is the Bible really
referring to little kids? It could be we are all little kids in God's
view - otherwise no adult would ever experience the sensation of seeing
their guardian Angel. In many religions, Guardian Angels are
not directly related to us, but rather are entities that have never lived
human life. They are wise, pure, compassionate, and non-judgmental.
They can guide, but cannot interfere with our free will. Often, they
are portrayed as lower-echelon beings in the heavenly hierarchy, as opposed
to more powerful Angels such as the Archangels. As such they are intermediaries
or messengers between us and our Creator. They inhabit a higher plane
of existence than we do, and have abilities to morph into many forms, including
the human form when necessary. Each Angel is assigned to one of us
at birth to guard us and look out for our best interests, regardless of
how we conduct our lives. They see the good in us whether or not we
believe in them or live pure lives, and they accompany us to our heavenly
destination after death. Encountering one's Guardian Angel is a life-changing
experience, and for those who have, their existence is a matter of pure
faith with no other proof needed. Those who truly believe claim that
they can simply call on their Guardian Angel and a response will come if
they watch for it, such as finding an open book with a passage that relates
to the problem.

Guardian Angels are Deceased Relatives
Who Watch Over Us: Many people who have had encounters with Guardian
Angels report the distinct feeling that the Angel was not a stranger at
all and that it was a recognizable deceased relative. This is a comforting
theory on several levels, as it implies life after death and a continued
relationship with our loved ones even after they are gone. Various
polls actually seem to indicate that slightly more people perceive their
Guardian Angels as being close family members than unidentified heavenly
beings. Who better to watch out for our best interests than someone
who knows us well, like a parent or grandparent? There are many stories
of people perceiving a close family member shielding them in a car crash
or warning them of impending danger. One thing is crystal clear -
we all form strong bonds in this life that likely do transcend the bounds
of this earthly existence, and whether or not we become Angels for those
who remain after we die, those bonds are tangible and everlasting. It is
therefore definitely a possibility that the Creator would give chosen relatives
the power to intervene in our lives in some circumstances.

Guardian Angels are a Projection
of Our Higher Selves: We all think we know ourselves, but our
actual selves are much more complex than we think. This is the concept
of the soul and of spirituality. We all sometimes feel and think things
that are outside the bounds of what we have experienced in our existence
on this plane, suggesting that there is more to us than there appears on
the surface. As you exist now, you are but a small part of a much
larger and more complex being. You have higher selves and lower selves,
all existing within the same soul. Some refer to it as being "multidimensional"
or as existing on "different vibrational planes." As it pertains
to Guardian Angels, in this scenario, you would be your own Guardian Angel,
with all the resources necessary. The help and knowledge that your
Angel extends to you would actually come from within your own vast inner
knowledge and wisdom that lies untapped in your daily life. Your higher
self is attuned to your situation and knows what is best for you. This is
the essence of a very complex concept that is discussed in more detail on
other areas of this site and won't be repeated here.

Guardian Angels are in the Here
and Now - They are People Who Come and Go Throughout Our Lives:
We've all experienced it - we are in a mess and can't find a way out
when someone comes into our lives and provides the solution. Sometimes
they stay and sometimes they don't, but they etch a place in our memories
and are never forgotten. We have to move away momentarily from the
purely religious implications of Guardian Angels to process this concept,
and there are other sources with intriguing ideas on the subject.

In the Jane Roberts/Seth material, Seth states
"The teachers within your system are those in their last reincarnation,
and other personalities who have left the system but have been assigned
to help those still within it. The system also includes some fragment
personalities that are entering for the first time, as well as those in
later reincarnations." This is a far-reaching statement that tends
to ring true. We all know people who are spiritually or intellectually
superior to us, and we all know people who are spiritually or intellectually
inferior to us. The most memorable people in our lives beyond our
own families are usually those on the extreme ends of this spectrum, either
good or bad. Essentially, all the people in our lives are in our lives
for a reason, and the ones who change us and help us grow are the ones who
knowingly or unknowingly act as our Guardian Angels. They are Angels
in human form, and even if one thinks of Angels as purely ethereal heavenly
beings or as deceased relatives looking after us, there's still room for
the possibility that the phenomenon could manifest in the here and now and
in the people we encounter in our day-to-day life. In fact, the Bible refers
to this very thing with regard to our Angels: "Do not forget to entertain
strangers, for by doing some people have entertained angels without knowing
it."

CAN WE TALK TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS?

By all accounts, yes, regardless of
which theory above you happen to subscribe to. There are literally
millions of accounts of people talking to their Guardian Angels, many even
by name. Obviously, if someone you know is knowingly or unknowingly
acting as your Angel, you are already talking to them without even realizing
it. But for the vast majority who subscribe to the spiritual, ethereal
nature of Angels from heaven, there is a lot of advice out there about how
to contact them and ask for help. Many people feel that those lucky
coincidences we all experience in life are the results of little nudges
from our Angel. For instance, deciding to stop at a store you don't
usually go into and finding a 20 dollar bill in the parking lot. The
consensus seems to be that Angels can give us hints and omens, but will
stop short of interfering with free will. Even if you have never asked
for help specifically, you may get it anyway through sudden insights or
coincidences. However, if you do consciously ask for help, you should
make yourself open to the answers, which may come in a variety of ways.
You might see something in print, such as in a book or newspaper or even
on a truck or bus or billboard. Someone might offhandedly say something
that gives you the answer or you might see on TV or hear it on the radio.
Generally, find a quiet place and ask, and then watch for signs. The
word "Angel" literally means "Messenger." Pay attention to your own
messages - it's just that simple.

WHAT DOES A GUARDIAN ANGEL LOOK
LIKE?

The Bible doesn't really say all that
much about what Angels look like, but most often portrays them as taking
on a human form (mostly men), sometimes indistinguishable from other humans.
Sometimes they have wings and sometimes not, and sometimes their appearance
is so shockingly bright that they frighten those who see them. Other forms
are mentioned too, such Angels appearing in a burning bush or in a tower
of clouds or fire. From all the Bible accounts, the inference is that
Angels can take on whatever form that suits their purposes. In practical
life, most of us will never see our Angel materialize, nor will we hear
our Angel speak. Our proof will be in the omens and signs we see after
asking for help in a pure and unselfish way.

As a last word, your Angel probably
won't help you pick winning lottery numbers or get revenge on someone who
has wronged you, because those are selfish pursuits. But for those
who wish to enrich their lives, or who are depressed or hopeless,
or have a big problem with no obvious way out, a little talk with your Guardian
Angle might just give you the tools to live a richer, happier life!